WO2022086864A1 - Connecteur de prise de tension d'une pile à combustible - Google Patents

Connecteur de prise de tension d'une pile à combustible Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2022086864A1
WO2022086864A1 PCT/US2021/055445 US2021055445W WO2022086864A1 WO 2022086864 A1 WO2022086864 A1 WO 2022086864A1 US 2021055445 W US2021055445 W US 2021055445W WO 2022086864 A1 WO2022086864 A1 WO 2022086864A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
actuator
bipolar plate
contact
housing
connector
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2021/055445
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jeng-De Lin
Jeffrey Parrish
Original Assignee
Interplex Industries, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Interplex Industries, Inc. filed Critical Interplex Industries, Inc.
Priority to US18/029,776 priority Critical patent/US20240079608A1/en
Priority to CN202180071163.7A priority patent/CN116325243A/zh
Priority to EP21883634.4A priority patent/EP4229699A1/fr
Publication of WO2022086864A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022086864A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H01M8/0247—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the form
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/02—Contact members
    • H01R13/10—Sockets for co-operation with pins or blades
    • H01R13/11—Resilient sockets
    • H01R13/113—Resilient sockets co-operating with pins or blades having a rectangular transverse section
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02—Details
    • H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04313—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by the detection or assessment of variables; characterised by the detection or assessment of failure or abnormal function
    • H01M8/04537—Electric variables
    • H01M8/04544—Voltage
    • H01M8/04552—Voltage of the individual fuel cell
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04694—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
    • H01M8/04858—Electric variables
    • H01M8/04865—Voltage
    • H01M8/04873—Voltage of the individual fuel cell
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/02—Contact members
    • H01R13/193—Means for increasing contact pressure at the end of engagement of coupling part, e.g. zero insertion force or no friction
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/50—Fixed connections
    • H01R12/51—Fixed connections for rigid printed circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/55—Fixed connections for rigid printed circuits or like structures characterised by the terminals
    • H01R12/58—Fixed connections for rigid printed circuits or like structures characterised by the terminals terminals for insertion into holes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/639—Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/64—Means for preventing incorrect coupling
    • H01R13/641—Means for preventing incorrect coupling by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

Definitions

  • This disclosure relates generally to connectors and, more particularly, to connectors for connecting bipolar plates of a fuel cell stack to a voltage measuring and monitoring system.
  • Fuel cells are a source of clean energy that are being used in a number of different applications, including automotive applications.
  • One type of fuel cell that is commonly utilized is a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell, which has a membrane electrode assembly that includes a PEM, anode and cathode catalyst layers disposed on opposing sides of the PEM and gas diffusion layers disposed on outer sides of the catalyst layers, respectively.
  • PEM polymer electrolyte membrane
  • a plurality of PEM fuel cells is provided in a stack, in which each PEM fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly disposed between a pair of bipolar plates.
  • the bipolar plates may be comprised of a metal, such as coated stainless steel, carbon (e.g. graphite), or a composite.
  • the bipolar plates connect the cells together electrically and provide physical strength to the stack. Flow fields in the form of channels may be formed in the bipolar plates to allow gases to flow over the cell.
  • the bipolar plates are thin, typically having a thickness of less than 6 mm and more usually around 1 mm.
  • a voltage pickup connector for a fuel cell system should be able to accommodate wide plate-to-plate tolerances and should exert a high contact force on a bipolar plate, without damaging or causing excessive wear of the bipolar plate or the contacts of the connector.
  • Conventional fuel cell voltage pickup connectors often do not fully meet these requirements. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a fuel cell voltage pickup connector that does meet these requirements.
  • a voltage pick-up connector for a bipolar plate of a fuel cell.
  • the voltage pick-up connector includes a housing having a housing slot with a front opening for receiving the bipolar plate.
  • the front opening is in a front portion of the housing.
  • a pair of electrically conductive contact plates are at least partially disposed inside the housing.
  • Each of the contact plates has at least one contact element for engaging the bipolar plate.
  • An actuator is disposed between the contact plates and is at least partially disposed inside the housing.
  • the actuator has a slot for receiving the bipolar plate and a blocking portion with at least one engagement structure. The actuator is movable between an extended position and a retracted position.
  • the blocking portion When the actuator is in the extended position, the blocking portion is disposed between the contact elements so as to separate the contact elements.
  • the at least one engagement structure engages at least one of the contact elements, and a frontmost portion of the actuator is disposed closer to the front opening of the housing than frontmost portions of the contact plates.
  • the blocking portion When the actuator is in the retracted position, the blocking portion is disposed rearward from the contact elements and does not separate the contact elements.
  • FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of portions of a pair of fuel cell stacks connected to a connector assembly
  • FIG. 2 shows a top, side perspective view of a connector connected to a bipolar plate of one of the fuel stacks
  • FIG. 3 shows a top, front perspective view of the connector
  • FIG. 4 shows a partially exploded side perspective view of the connector
  • FIG. 5 shows a side perspective view of contact plates and an actuator of the connector
  • FIG. 6 shows a rear, side sectional perspective view of the connector, with one of the contact plates removed;
  • FIG. 7 shows a perspective side sectional view of the connector
  • FIG. 8 shows a side schematic view of the connector, wherein the actuator is in an extended position
  • FIG. 9 shows a side schematic view of the connector, wherein the actuator is in a retracted position
  • FIG. 10 shows a side schematic view of the connector connected to a bipolar plate having protrusions
  • FIG. 11 shows a side schematic view of the connector having a pair of connector position assurance structures mounted thereto;
  • FIG. 12 shows a close-up top view of a portion of the connector assembly of FIG. 1 , with parts removed for better illustration;
  • FIG. 13 shows a portion of the connector assembly of FIG.1
  • FIG. 1 there is shown portions of a pair of fuel cell stacks 10 connected to a plurality of connectors 12 mounted to a support circuit board 14.
  • bipolar plates 16 of the fuel cell stacks 10 are physically and electrically connected to the connectors 12.
  • the fuel cell stacks 10 may be comprised of PEM fuel cells, each of which includes a membrane electrode assembly comprising a PEM, anode and cathode catalyst layers disposed on opposing sides of the PEM and gas diffusion layers disposed on outer sides of the catalyst layers, respectively.
  • the membrane electrode assembly is disposed between a pair of the bipolar plates 16.
  • the bipolar plates 16 may be constructed of carbon (such as graphite), metal, or a composite.
  • Suitable metals that may be used include stainless steel, aluminum, titanium and nickel, which may be coated with a carbon- or metal-based coating to prevent electrically insulating surface passivation and metal ion dissolution.
  • Suitable composites include carbon-polymer composites, such as a dispersion of graphite, carbon black, carbon fibers, and/or carbon nanotubes in a polymer matrix that may be polypropylene, polyphenylene sulfide, polyvinylidene fluoride or a phenolic resin. Flow fields in the form of channels may be formed in the bipolar plates 16 to allow gases to flow over the cells of the fuel cell stacks 10.
  • the bipolar plates 16 may each have a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mm to about 4mm and a typical area of from about 10 cm 2 to about 100 cm 2 .
  • each bipolar plate 16 may have protrusions 18 formed on opposing sides of the bipolar plate 16, toward a leading edge thereof, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11 .
  • the connectors 12 electrically connect the bipolar plates 16 to the support circuit board 14 such that signals for measuring the voltage across each pair of the bipolar plates 16 are routed through the support circuit board 14 to a link 15 that transmits the voltage signals to a monitoring module 17 that measures and monitors the voltages.
  • each connector 12 includes a pair of contact plates 22 and a shuttle or actuator 24 mounted inside an outer housing 25.
  • Each contact plate 22 is comprised of conductive metal, such as copper or a copper alloy, which may be coated with tin or another metal.
  • Each contact plate 22 includes a main body having a rear body portion 30 with a plurality of mounting structures 28 extending therefrom and a front body portion 34 with a plurality of contact fingers 32 extending therefrom.
  • the mounting structures 28 may, as shown, be straight pins for soldering into plated holes in the support circuit board 14. Alternately, the mounting structures 28 may be pins having press-fit fasteners that are pressed into the plated holes of the support circuit board 14. Exemplary pins with press-fit fasteners include those with an eye-of-the-needle (EON) construction.
  • the mounting structures 28 may be crimps for securement to wires, or surface mount connectors.
  • the main bodies of the contact plates 22 are slightly bent such that the front body portions 34, and the contact fingers 32, slope inward, toward each other.
  • Each contact finger 32 is generally L-shaped, having inner and outer portions joined at bends 36, with the outer portions extending outward.
  • the contact fingers 32 in one of the contact plates 22 are aligned with the contact fingers 32 in the other one of the contact plates 22 so as to form pairs of opposing contact fingers 32.
  • the bends 36 of the opposing contact fingers 32 would abut each other but for the actuator 24 or the bipolar plate 16. In other words, the bends 36 in one contact plate 22 are biased toward the bends 36 in the other contact plate 22.
  • the actuator 24 is movably disposed between the contact plates 22, as described more fully below.
  • the actuator 24 is comprised of an electrically insulating plastic and defines a slot 40 sized to receive a bipolar plate 16.
  • the slot 40 has an opening formed in a front end portion of the actuator 24.
  • Opposing top and bottom surfaces of the actuator 24 each have a ridge 42 with an indentation 44 formed therein.
  • each ridge 42 and, thus, its indentation 44 may be limited to a center portion of the actuator 24 (as shown) or may extend across the entire width of the actuator 24, depending on how many bends 36 of a contact plate 22 are to be disposed in the indentation 44.
  • a posterior end portion of the actuator 24 has a rearwardly- directed slot or notch 46 formed therein. As described more fully below, the notch 46 is aligned with an opening in the support 14 and is adapted to receive an end of a push rod 90.
  • the actuator 24 may have opposing tapered posterior surfaces 48 to facilitate the insertion of the contact plates 22 into the housing 25 through a rear opening 52 of the housing 25 during the manufacture of the connector 12. The tapered posterior surfaces 48 help spread the front body portions 34 of the contact plates 22 as they are being inserted.
  • the housing 25 which may be formed of insulating plastic, is cuboidal and has a front portion with a front opening 50 formed therein and a rear portion with a rear opening 52 formed therein.
  • the housing 25 includes a pair of side walls 54 joined between a pair of major walls 56 having openings 60 therein.
  • the front opening 50 cooperates with slots 62 in the side walls 54 to form a housing slot 64 in the housing 25.
  • Front end portions of each side wall 54, on opposing sides of the slot 62, are tapered to form a guide area 66 for guiding a bipolar plate 16 into the housing slot 64.
  • Each side wall 54 has an interior mount 68 that defines a central guide groove 70.
  • the slots 62 in the side walls 54 extend through the guide grooves 70, respectively.
  • the interior mount 68 also helps define a pair of spaced-apart holding grooves 72.
  • the rear portions 30 of the contact plates 22 are held in the holding grooves 72, respectively, in a spaced-apart manner.
  • the actuator 24 is disposed between the contact plates 22 and is movably mounted to the mounts 68, with side portions of the actuator 24 being slidably disposed in the guide grooves 70, respectively.
  • the actuator 24 is movable between an extended position and a retracted position, as depicted schematically in Figs. 8 and 9.
  • the actuator 24 In the extended position, the actuator 24 is disposed proximate to the front opening 50 in the housing 25, whereas in the retracted position, the actuator 24 is disposed distal to the front opening 25.
  • a frontmost portion of the actuator 24 is disposed forward from frontmost portions of the contact fingers 32, i.e., is closer to the front opening 50.
  • at least one bend 36 of one of the contact plates 22 is disposed inside the indentation 44 of one of the ridges 42, while at least one bend of the other one of the contact plates 22 is disposed inside the indentation 44 of the other one of the ridges 42.
  • the actuator 24 is held in the extended position by the bends 36 in at least one pair of opposing contact fingers 32 in the two contact plates 22.
  • the pair of opposing contact fingers 32 may be a middle pair of the opposing contact fingers 32.
  • the actuator 24 is disposed rearward from the bends 36 and a posterior end of the actuator 24 abuts inner end walls 76 of the mounts 68, respectively.
  • movement of the actuator 24 between the extended and retracted positions causes movement of the front body portions 34 of the contact plates 22 toward and away from each other, as discussed more fully below.
  • a bipolar plate 16 is shown aligned with a connector 12 in preparation for being mounted thereto.
  • a leading edge of the bipolar plate 16 is disposed in the guide areas 66 of the housing 25 and the actuator 24 is in the extended position so as to separate the front body portions 34 (and, more specifically, the bends 36) of the contact plates 22.
  • a force is then applied to the bipolar plate 16 to move the bipolar plate 16 into the housing slot 64 and thence the slot 40 of the actuator 24, with the actuator 24 being held steady by the interplay of the bends 36 with the indentations 44.
  • the bipolar plate 16 moves the actuator 24 out of engagement with the bends 36 and thence all of the front body portions 34 of the contact plates 22.
  • the front body portions 34 of the contact plates 22 move resiliently inward, toward each other, which brings the bends 36 of the contact plates 22 into engagement with opposing sides of the bipolar plate 16.
  • the actuator 24 continues rearward until the posterior end of the actuator 24 abuts the inner end walls 76 of the mounts 68, at which point, the actuator 24 is in the retracted position, as shown in Fig. 9.
  • the bipolar plate 16 is now firmly held between the contact plates 22 by the bends 36 and is in electrical contact therewith, i.e., the bipolar plate 16 is in a connected position.
  • bends 36 in each pair of opposing contact fingers 32 are pressed against the bipolar plate 16 (with high normal forces) at the same location, except for on opposing sides of the bipolar plate 16. This helps ensure good contact performance with high normal force, but without deforming the thin bipolar plate 16.
  • the bipolar plate 16 may have protrusions 18 formed on opposing sides of the bipolar plate 16, toward the leading edge thereof, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. More specifically, the protrusions 18 are spaced from the leading edge of the bipolar plate 16 such that when the leading edge portion of the bipolar plate 16 is disposed in the slot 40 of the actuator 24, the protrusions 18 are spaced from the actuator 24 and, when the actuator 24 is in the extended position, the protrusions 18 may be at least partially disposed outside the housing 25.
  • the protuberances 18 engage the contact fingers 32 and move them outwardly to allow the protuberances 18 to pass therebetween.
  • the curved shape of the protuberances 18 cooperates with the sloped shape of the outer portions of the contact fingers 32 to move the contact fingers 32 outward.
  • each protrusion 18 When the bipolar plate 16 is in the connected position, each protrusion 18 is disposed rearward of the bend 36 of at least one of the contact fingers 32 and abuts an inner portion thereof. With the protuberances 18 so positioned, in order for the bipolar plate 16 to move out of the connected position, an increased force must be applied to the bipolar plate 16 that is sufficient to separate the contact fingers 32 to permit the protrusions 18 to pass therebetween. This requirement for an increased force helps maintain the bipolar plate 16 in the connected position. Each protuberance 18 may be sized to engage only one contact finger 32, such as a middle contact finger (as shown), or may be sized to engage all of the contact fingers 32 of a contact plate 22.
  • one or more holes may be formed in the bipolar plate 16, wherein the holes are positioned such that the bends 36 of opposing contact fingers 32 are disposed in the holes when the actuator 24 is in the retracted position. Latches may also be used to hold the bipolar plate 16 in the connected position.
  • the connector 12 may be provided with one or more connector position assurance (CPA) structures 80 that help keep the bipolar plate 16 in the connected position.
  • CPA connector position assurance
  • a pair of CPA structures 80 may be utilized.
  • Each CPA structure 80 has an L- shaped cross-section and includes an end wall 82 joined at about a right angle to an arm 84 that extends forward therefrom.
  • the arms 84 extend into the housing 25 (such as through the openings 60) and engage the contact fingers 32 of the contact plates 22, respectively, so as to press them inward and maintain an inwardly-directed pressure on the bends 36, which are abutting the bipolar plate 16. Free edges of the end walls 82 are disposed against opposing sides of the bipolar plate 16 and help prevent movement of the bipolar plate 16.
  • the bipolar plate 16 may be disconnected and removed from the connector 12, by moving the actuator 24 back to the extended position. This may be accomplished using a push rod 90.
  • the push rod 90 may be inserted through a rod opening 92 in the support circuit board 14 and into the notch 46 in the actuator 24.
  • the release rod 90 is then pushed forward, moving the actuator 24 and the bipolar plate 16 forward.
  • the bipolar plate 16 has the protrusions 16
  • rounded surfaces of the protrusions 18 contact the sloping inner portions of the contact fingers 32 in a camming manner that translates a portion of the forward movement into movement of the contact fingers 32 away from each other, thereby allowing the protrusions 16, followed by the actuator 24, to pass between the contact fingers 32.
  • a sloping front surface of the actuator 24 contacts the sloping inner portions of the contact fingers 32 in a camming manner that translates a portion of the forward movement into movement of the contact fingers 32 away from each other, thereby allowing the actuator 24, to pass between the contact fingers 32.
  • the push rod 90 is pushed forward until the front end of the actuator 24 abuts a pair of inwardly extending retention tabs 94 of the housing 25 (shown in Fig. 3), at which point the actuator 24 is in the extended position. With the actuator 24 in the extended position, the bipolar plate 16 is no longer held between the bends 36 of opposing contact fingers 32 and, as such, can be easily removed from the housing slot 64 and away from the connector 12.
  • each connector 12 may be part of an assembly 96 that is connected to a plurality of bipolar plates 16, such as all of the bipolar plates 16 of a fuel cell stack 10.
  • the housings 25 of the connectors 12 may be integrally joined together in a unitary housing 98.
  • the unitary housing 98 may include a back wall 100 integrally joined to posterior ends of the side walls 54 of the housings 25.
  • rod openings in the back wall 100 would be aligned with the rod openings 92 in the support circuit board 14 and the notches 46 in the actuators 24 such that a push rod 90 could be inserted through the rod openings in both the support circuit board 14 and the back wall 100 to engage the actuator 24 of a connector 12.
  • the connector 12 may be provided with a spring biasing arrangement to bias the actuator 12 toward the extended position.
  • the push rod 90 may be dispensed with or may still be utilized to manually help move the actuator 24 from the retracted position to the extended position.
  • such a spring biasing arrangement is not desirable and the connector 12 therefore does not have any spring biasing arrangement.
  • the connector 12 of the present disclosure provides a number of benefits over conventional fuel cell voltage connectors. Due to its thinness, a bipolar plate that is to be inserted between a pair of contacts cannot adequately deflect the contacts if the contacts are to subsequently provide high normal forces against the bipolar plate. Lowering the normal forces applied by the contacts is not desirable because it results in unstable contact performance when the connector and/or the bipolar plate are subjected to shock, vibration or micro movement.
  • the connector 12 addresses this issue by utilizing the actuator 24 to pre-load the contact plates 22, i.e., space apart the contact plates 22 against their biases. The actuator 24 pre-loads the contact plates 22 when the bipolar plate 16 is inserted into the housing slot 64 and positioned between the contact plates 22.
  • the actuator 24 moves out of engagement with the contact plates 22, thereby allowing the contact plates 22 to move inward and press the bends 36 into engagement with opposing sides of the bipolar plate 16.
  • the contact plates 22 are able to apply high normal forces to the bipolar plate16 without damaging the bipolar plate 16 or experiencing excessive wear (through wiping) when the bipolar plate16 is positioned between the contact plates 22.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un connecteur de prise de tension destiné à être connecté à une plaque bipolaire d'une pile à combustible. Le connecteur de prise de tension comprend un boîtier ayant une fente de réception pour recevoir la plaque bipolaire. Une paire de plaques de contact électro-conductrices sont disposées à l'intérieur du boîtier et présentent des éléments de contact pour venir en prise avec la plaque bipolaire. Un actionneur est disposé entre les plaques de contact et est disposé à l'intérieur du boîtier. L'actionneur présente une fente pour recevoir la plaque bipolaire. L'actionneur est mobile entre une position étendue, dans laquelle il est disposé entre les éléments de contact de manière à séparer les éléments de contact, et une position rétractée, dans laquelle il n'est pas disposé entre les éléments de contact.
PCT/US2021/055445 2020-10-19 2021-10-18 Connecteur de prise de tension d'une pile à combustible WO2022086864A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US18/029,776 US20240079608A1 (en) 2020-10-19 2021-10-18 Fuel cell voltage pickup connector
CN202180071163.7A CN116325243A (zh) 2020-10-19 2021-10-18 燃料电池电压采集连接器
EP21883634.4A EP4229699A1 (fr) 2020-10-19 2021-10-18 Connecteur de prise de tension d'une pile à combustible

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US202063093645P 2020-10-19 2020-10-19
US63/093,645 2020-10-19

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2022086864A1 true WO2022086864A1 (fr) 2022-04-28

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2021/055445 WO2022086864A1 (fr) 2020-10-19 2021-10-18 Connecteur de prise de tension d'une pile à combustible

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20240079608A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP4229699A1 (fr)
CN (1) CN116325243A (fr)
WO (1) WO2022086864A1 (fr)

Citations (5)

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KR20110059386A (ko) * 2009-11-27 2011-06-02 현대자동차주식회사 연료 전지 스택용 셀 전압 모니터링 단자
WO2012073000A1 (fr) * 2010-12-03 2012-06-07 Intelligent Energy Limited Système de connecteur pour un empilement de piles à combustible
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CN110474074A (zh) * 2019-08-27 2019-11-19 广东国鸿氢能科技有限公司 用于燃料电池石墨双极板检测的连接结构和检测方法

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